The Balearic island of Menorca has become increasingly popular over the past couple of decades with tourists and people looking to retire to a great part of the world. This island definitely tends to me much quieter and more laid-back than the neighboring islands of Mallorca and Ibiza and its compact size means that you are always within a quick and easy driving distance of the main attractions and services.

If you are ever contemplating retiring to another part of the world, there will always be a number of criteria that need to be satisfied beforehand. Therefore, this article aims to consider the features and benefits of Menorca to ascertain whether or not it would prove to be the most ideal place for you to retire to.

Menorca Beaches

Island’s Geography and Compact Size

First and foremost, the island of Menorca is nothing like as large as the neighboring Balearic island of Mallorca. This means it is possible to get from one side of the island to the other in less than an hour. Also, Menorca tends to be much less mountainous than Mallorca. This is perfect for some retirees as it will mean that they are not forced to spend much of their time in tedious and drawn-out car journeys to get anywhere.

Menorca Map

Great Beaches

If you love to spend a lot of your time at the beach, you are simply going to love the island of Menorca. There are some great sandy beaches to be found along the coastline of the island and many of these are alongside tourist resorts which are nothing like as brash and busy as you will find in other parts of the Balearics and Spain.

Historic Towns

The island’s capital of Mahon is definitely well worth a visit and is literally crammed-full with all the great shops and facilities you could ever need. However, Ciutadella, on the opposite coast (west), is the old capital of Menorca and is steeped in even more history than its modern counterpart. The Old Town is particularly attractive and the water-side cafes and restaurants in the port area are definitely great for a relaxing lunch or dinner.

Menorca’s Weather

When compared with climes farther north, Menorca’s weather really would be fantastic. However, it is worth noting that this island is not actually as hot and dry as Mallorca and most other parts of the Mediterranean. Whilst this might put some sun-worshipers off, for people considering retiring to Menorca, this definitely makes for a very safe and sensible climate. Summer months can become very warm—into the thirties degrees Celsius—but should extremely rarely reach values that can jeopardize the health of the elderly. Also, there is a good average rate of sunshine hours per year.

The Balearic island of Menorca

That ‘All-important’ Cost of Living

As with much of the rest of Spain, when compared with northern European countries, Menorca offers a relatively reasonable cost of living. If you wish to retire to the island and live as cheaply as possible, this is entirely possible. The lower-cost supermarkets are present on the island—especially on the outskirts of the capital, Mahon. Property prices tend to be a little more expensive that mainland Spain and rental prices can also be a little higher.

Opportunities to Socialize

Menorca has large ex-pat communities from most major European countries and this means that it is very easy to mix and socialize with your peers. Americans, Australians and English- and other Spanish-speaking nationalities will also find that retiring to Menorca is a very good idea. Menorca is a firm favorite for people to retire to and the number of people heading to the island for this exact reason is on the rise year-on-year.

How easy is it to Retire to Menorca?

If you are a citizen of the European Union, retiring to Menorca really is a piece of cake. EU legislation sets out that all EU citizens have a right to roam and live in other member states. However, if you are planning to stay in another member state for more than 6 months—which would be pertinent if you are looking to move to Menorca—there are a few rules you have to follow: e.g. registering with the appropriate authorities. Non EU citizens would need to check the relevant details for entry and visa conditions into Spain from their home country.